Editing Dave Gahan (section)

==Career==
===Depeche Mode (1980–present)===
[[File:Depeche Mode 1985.jpg|thumb|Gahan (centre-right) as member of Depeche Mode, 1985]]
In March 1980, [[Martin Gore]], [[Andy Fletcher (musician)|Andy Fletcher]], and [[Vince Clarke]] formed the band Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals and guitar, Gore on keyboards and Fletcher on bass. Clarke and Fletcher soon switched to synthesizers. The same year, Gahan joined the band after Clarke heard him perform [[David Bowie]]'s "[["Heroes" (David Bowie song)|{{-'}}Heroes{{'-}}]]".<ref name=D93>{{Citation|last=Shaw|first=William|title=In The Mode|journal=[[Details magazine]] | date=April 1993|pages=90–95, 168}}</ref> The band was soon renamed ''Depeche Mode'', a name suggested by Gahan after he had come across a [[fashion magazine]] called ''Dépêche-mode''.<ref name="sacreddm.net">{{cite journal|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] | url=http://www.sacreddm.net/2000s/q010603/q010603main.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724052008/http://www.sacreddm.net/2000s/q010603/q010603main.htm|archive-date=24 July 2011|title=Cash For Questions: Dave Gahan|issue=June 2003|first=Paul|last=Stokes|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> A [[New wave music|new wave]]/[[synth-pop]] pioneer of the early 1980s, Depeche Mode have released 15 studio albums, four greatest hits compilations and two remix albums. The band has achieved global sales in excess of 100 million records.<ref>"[http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/new-depeche-mode-album-number-one-in-20-countries "New Depeche Mode album number one in 20 countries"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606013346/http://www.emimusic.com/news/2009/new-depeche-mode-album-number-one-in-20-countries/ |date=6 June 2011 }}, EmiMusic.com, 1 May 2009.</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7728522/depeche-mode-spirit-new-album|title=Depeche Mode Strut Revolutionary 'Spirit' on New Album: Listen|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Four of the band's singles have reached number one on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''<nowiki />'s Alternative Songs chart: "[[Enjoy the Silence]]" (1990), "[[Policy of Truth]]" (1990), "[[I Feel You]]" (1993), and "[[Walking in My Shoes]]" (1993).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/depeche-mode|title=Depeche Mode Chart History|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

In a 2003 interview, Gahan shared that "During the making of ''Exciter,'' sometimes I felt a bit frustrated that there was a lack of experimentation."<ref>Zonkel, Phillip. [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GAHAN+NO+LONGER+IN+SUCH+A+HURRY.(U)-a0110319515 "Gahan no longer in such a hurry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014023052/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GAHAN+NO+LONGER+IN+SUCH+A+HURRY.(U)-a0110319515 |date=14 October 2012 }}, ''Daily News'' (Los Angeles), 24 August 2003.</ref> This led him, in 2004, to tell his bandmates that he wanted to write half of the songs on their next album, and there was "no way" he could be involved in the band without contributing as a songwriter.<ref>Quan, Denise. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/12/depeche.mode/index.html?eref=rss_latest "A Sobering Interview with Depeche Mode"]. CNN. 13 May 2009.</ref> Eventually, there was a compromise, and three of Gahan's songs appeared on 2005's ''[[Playing the Angel]]'': "[[Suffer Well]]" (nominated for a Grammy award), "I Want It All" and "Nothing's Impossible".<ref>{{Citation|title=Playing the Angel – Depeche Mode {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/playing-the-angel-mw0000176163|language=en|access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref> "Suffer Well" was released as a single in 2006, reaching No.&nbsp;12 in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Depeche Mode {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/20192/depeche-mode/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> Gahan also wrote the lyrics to the B-side "Oh Well", although the music was written by Martin Gore. It was their first writing collaboration.<ref>"[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=37551_0_2_0_C Depeche Mode present birth first song in 4 video postings]" ''Side-Line.com.'' 24 November 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.depeche-mode.com/home/2008/12/21/details-of-the-universe/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227044039/http://www.depeche-mode.com/home/2008/12/21/details-of-the-universe/|url-status=dead|title=Details of the Universe|archive-date=27 December 2008}}</ref>

Gahan's persona onstage is influenced by [[Dave Vanian]], frontman of [[The Damned (band)|the Damned]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kutv.com/news/entertainment/the-damned-dont-you-wish-we-were-dead |title='The Damned: Don't You Wish We Were Dead' |date=28 May 2016 |publisher=KUTV |access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://depeche-mode.com/2016/05/21/dave-gahan-featured-in-a-new-the-damned-documentary/ |title=Dave Gahan featured in a new 'The Damned' documentary |work=depeche-mode.com |access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> He has also credited Bowie, [[James Brown]], [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] as influences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/21/dave-gahan-regret-is-a-weird-word-i-dont-look-back-on-my-life-like-that|title=Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode: 'Regret is a weird word. I don't look back on my life like that'|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=21 October 2021}}</ref>

===Solo albums and collaborations (2003–present)===
In 2003, Gahan released his first solo album, ''[[Paper Monsters]]'' (which he co-wrote with guitarist and friend [[Knox Chandler]]), followed by the Paper Monsters Tour (including a performance at 2003's [[Glastonbury Festival]]), singing both his new solo tracks and Depeche Mode fan favourites. The album was a moderate success. The first single "[[Dirty Sticky Floors]]" hit the Top 20 in the [[UK singles chart]]. The album became a Top 10 hit on the European album chart and a Top 40 hit in the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London, UK|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page= 220}}</ref>
[[File:Dave Gahan Bilbao BBK Live 2009 II.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Gahan with Depeche Mode in 2009]]
In 2007, Gahan announced he was working on a new album via a video greeting for Depeche Mode's official website recorded at the 2007 MusiCares Charity event on 11 May. The album, entitled ''[[Hourglass (Dave Gahan album)|Hourglass]]'', was accompanied working by Andrew Phillpott and Christian Eigner.<ref>"[http://www.artisannews.com/ans101/templates/?a=3795&z=98 David Gahan of Depeche Mode Working on New Solo Album] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526041549/http://www.artisannews.com/ans101/templates/?a=3795&z=98 |date=26 May 2007 }}" ''ArtisanNews.com.'' 24 May 2007.</ref><ref>"[http://www.davegahan.com/news/press_release_20070626.html Dave Gahan Set to Release 'Hourglass,' His Second Solo Album in Late October] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627094339/http://www.davegahan.com/news/press_release_20070626.html |date=27 June 2007 }}" ''DaveGahan.com.'' 26 June 2007.</ref> The material was recorded at Gahan's 11th Floor Studios in New York City. According to Gahan, ''Hourglass'' is more electronic-sounding than ''Paper Monsters''.<ref>"[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=24085_0_2_0_C Dave Gahan to release second solo album 'Hourglass']" ''Side-Line.com.'' 28 June 2007.</ref> The album made the UK Top 50, the French Top 20 and narrowly missed going to No.&nbsp;1 in Germany. The first single to be pulled from ''Hourglass'' was "[[Kingdom (Dave Gahan song)|Kingdom]]".<ref>"[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=25047_0_2_0_C Depeche Mode frontman announces first new solo single]" ''Side-Line.com.'' 7 August 2007.</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">"[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=25236_0_2_0_C More info on upcoming Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) single]" ''Side-line.com.'' 16 August 2007.</ref>

In July 2007, ''Side-Line'' magazine revealed that Gahan had been working with [[Thomas Anselmi]] on a project called [[Mirror (multimedia project)|Mirror]], which was produced by [[Vincent Jones (musician)|Vincent Jones]]. Along with Jones, who played with Gahan's touring band and mixed the live DVD ''[[Live Monsters (video)|Live Monsters]]'',<ref>[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/dave_gahan-live_monsters "Dave Gahan Live Monsters"]. ''Exclaim!'', By Prasad Bidaye, 1 May 2004</ref> Mirror featured another Gahan collaborator, Knox Chandler ([[Siouxsie & the Banshees]], [[the Psychedelic Furs]]), as well as piano by Bowie favourite Mike Garson, and a monologue by Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro. Gahan sang vocals on the track "Nostalgia".<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=24515_0_2_0_C "Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan contributes vocals to new Mirror project"], Side-Line.com, 17 July 2007.</ref> The song was released in October 2008,<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=36205_0_2_0_C "Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan contribution to Mirror album 'Mirror' out now"], Side-Line.com, 3 October 2008.</ref> and the album released via download at the start of 2009. He also appeared in the accompanying video for the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Thomas+Anselmi%3A+Mirror|title=Thomas Anselmi: Mirror|website=SuicideGirls.com|date=9 March 2009|access-date=10 March 2009}}</ref>

Gahan also contributed vocals to a track called "Visitors", after walking in while producer and ex-[[Clor]] guitarist Luke Smith was working on the song in his New York studio. The song was released under the artist name of [[Fryars|frYars]].<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=37094_0_2_0_C "Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan invites himself as singer on 'Visitors' from fryars debut 'Dark Young Hearts'"], Side-Line.com, 10 November 2008.</ref>

Gahan is the lead singer and lyricist on [[Soulsavers]]' fourth studio album ''[[The Light the Dead See]]''. The album was released on 21 May 2012.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[The Quietus]] | title=Dave Gahan Discusses Soulsavers & New DM|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/08094-dave-gahan-interview-depeche-mode-soulsavers|date=1 March 2012|first=Sam|last=Spokony|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>

Gahan sings and plays harmonica on "Low Guns", the first single from the 2014 album ''The Morning After'' by English band SixToes. The single was released on 18 November 2013. The SixToes remix of "Jezebel" was released on the special edition of ''[[Sounds of the Universe]]'' in 2009. Members of SixToes also collaborated with Soulsavers, on the album ''The Light the Dead See''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=AltSounds |title=SixToes collaborate with Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode |url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/162020-sixtoes-collaborate-dave-gahan-depeche-mode.html |first=Jack |last=Stovin |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232628/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/162020-sixtoes-collaborate-dave-gahan-depeche-mode.html |archive-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> 

In 2015, Gahan collaborated again with Soulsavers as the main singer on the album ''[[Angels & Ghosts]]''. The lead single from the album titled "All of This and Nothing" was released digitally 11 September 2015. 

In 2017, Gahan featured on Null + Void's song "Where I Wait"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUSJ4XK2UXg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/xUSJ4XK2UXg| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Null + Void: Where I Wait feat. Dave Gahan|via=YouTube|date=13 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> from the album ''Cryosleep'' where the song features three times in different remixes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dubiks.com/2017/07/20/null-void-to-release-debut-album-cryosleep/|title=Null + Void to release debut album 'Cryosleep'|website=dubiks.com|date=20 July 2017|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815194004/https://dubiks.com/2017/07/20/null-void-to-release-debut-album-cryosleep/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, a remix of the [[Goldfrapp]] single "[[Ocean (Goldfrapp song)|Ocean]]" featuring guest vocals from Gahan was released as a digital download on 21 May 2018. Regarding the collaboration, the Goldfrapp issued a statement: "Working with Dave Gahan on the new version of 'Ocean' had been a real honor for us as a band."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Yoo|first1=Noah|title=Goldfrapp Share New Song With Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan: Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/goldfrapp-share-new-song-with-depeche-modes-dave-gahan-listen/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=15 June 2018|date=21 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527070436/https://pitchfork.com/news/goldfrapp-share-new-song-with-depeche-modes-dave-gahan-listen/|archive-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, Gahan contributed a cover of the [[Metallica]] song "[[Nothing Else Matters]]" to the charity tribute album ''[[The Metallica Blacklist]]'' and did guest vocals on a single from [[Jenny Lee Lindberg]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=He|first=Richard S.|date=2021-09-10|title=Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-metallica-blacklist-cover-ranked-from-worst-to-best|access-date=2021-10-24|website=loudersound|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-17|title=Listen to Warpaint's Jennylee's new Depeche Mode-featuring single, 'Stop Speaking'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-warpaints-jennylees-new-depeche-mode-featuring-single-stop-speaking-3121075|access-date=2021-12-20|website=NME|language=en-GB}}</ref> On November 12, 2021, Gahan released an album of [[Cover version|covers]] called ''[[Imposter (album)|Imposter]]'' with Soulsavers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Barker | first=Andrew |  title=Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan Talks About His First Covers Album, the Aptly-Named 'Imposter' | website=Variety | date=November 12, 2021 | url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/dave-gahan-covers-album-imposter-interview-1235110420/ | access-date=November 13, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Depeche Mode Oct 4 2022 (1).jpg|thumb|Gahan (right) with bandmate [[Martin Gore]] (left) at a press conference for their album ''[[Memento Mori (Depeche Mode album)|Memento Mori]]'' in 2022]]
In 2023, Gahan contributed a cover of "Mother of Earth" by [[the Gun Club]] to the fourth installment in the ''[[Jeffrey Lee Pierce]] Sessions Project'' series of tribute albums, titled ''The Task Has Overwhelmed Us''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Dave Gahan – "Mother Of Earth" (The Gun Club Cover) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2231030/dave-gahan-mother-of-earth-the-gun-club-cover/music/ |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=27 July 2023 |date=24 July 2023}}</ref>